Automatic intermittent flush valve



Feb. 2, 1937.

AUTOMATIC INTERMITTENT FLUSH VALVE Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2filly J INVENTOR. 14 \f. fl h/ f'e Y M TITORNEY w. 5. WHITE 2,069,340

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a fiush valve of the typegenerally employed in connection with urinals.

It is a common practice to provide a valve of this type for flushingurinals. The urinal fixture,

in most instances, is an earthenware composition having a glazed surfacewhich contains numerous, minute interstices. If used when this glazedsurface is dry, the urine penetrates the interstices of the fixture, andif permitted to remain therein, causes a disagreeable odor, as well asstaining the fixture. The flushing action is intended to cleanse thefixture and avoid the aforementioned obnoxious conditions, but manyusers neglect to operate the valve and the fixture often remains in adry condition for considerable periods of time, during which it isfrequently used.

It is an object of my invention to provide a flush valve which opensperiodically to fiush a fixture with which it is connected, with ameasured volume of water, the opening and closing movements of the valvebeing entirely automatic.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a valve particularlyadapted for maintaining the surface of a fixture in a moist condition byimpounding a restricted, continuous flow of water during predeterminedintervals necessary to collect a volume of water sufficient for aflushing action, and utilizing the pressure of the restricted flow ineffecting an automatic operation of the valve to flush the fixture, whenthe required volume is available.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automaticallyoperating valve of the character described, which also contains amanually-operable control to produce a fiushing action.

Other objects reside in details of construction and in the combinationand arrangement of parts, as will fully appear in the course of thefollowing description.

Referring now to the drawings, in the several views of which like partshave been similarly designated,

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a preferred embodiment ofthe valve assembly embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 represents a. sectional elevation of another embodiment of avalve assembly embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 3 a section taken along the line 3--3, Figure 1, and

Figure 4 a section taken along the line 4-4, Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the valve casing 6 is provided with aninlet 1, an outlet 8, and with an annular valve seat 9 on its interiorsurface. A valve III cooperates with the seat 9 to control the flow ofwater between the inlet and 5 the outlet, andprovides an end wall of acontrol chamber I2 within the casing 6. The valve is provided with anannular recess in which a resilient washer 59 is fitted, to form afluid-tight closure when the valve In is held on seat 9.

A piston element I3 reciprocates in the control chamber I2 and a coilspring I4 bearing against a wall of the control chamber I2 engages thepiston I3. A cap I5, fitted in the casing 6, has a vent IE to eliminatecompression exteriorly of control chamber I2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the inlet I entersinto a chamber H in a hollow cylindrical housing I8, supportedintegrally in spaced relation to the cylindrical interior of the casing6 by spokes I9. The space 20 between the housing and the casing providesa passage from the control chamber to the outlet. A restricted opening2I in the chamber permits communication with the outlet 8, and a tiltvalve 22, seated on an annular gasket 23 in the chamber I1 and having astem 24 extending thru the opening 2|, controls the fiow of watertherethru. A coil spring 25 in the chamber bears upon the tilt valve fornormally holding the same on its seat.

A port 26 leading from the chamber I1 is narrowed at 21 to provide aseat for a ball valve 28,'the seat being notched at 29 to provide ableed opening. The port 26 terminates in a passage 30 which communicateswith control chamher I2.

The piston element I3, in the embodiment illustrated in Figuresl and 3,comprises a two-part casing comprising a flanged section 3| and aflanged section 32, fastened in fiange-to-fiange relationship with a cupwasher 33 held between the flange 34 of the section 3I and the fiange 35of the section 32. The flanges 34 and 35, together with the washer 33,form a shoulder on the piston exposed to the pressure of water enteringthe control chamber I2 thru the passage 30, which provides a fluid-tightclosure that defines the control chamber I2.

The section 3| is. widened at 36 to provide an abutment for the springI4. A stem 31 slidably 60 fitted in an aperture 38 of the section 32extends into the section 3| and terminates in a flanged head 39, whichprovides an abutment for a coil spring 49 on the head. At its oppositeend, the spring 40 bears upon the section .32.

For manual operation of the valve, a handle 4| fulcrumed in an end of ahousing 42, screwed. upon an end of the casing 63, actuates a pushrod 43slidably supported in an aperture 44 in the housing 42. A coil springbetween and bearing upon a head 46 and an abutment 41 carried on thepushrod within the housing 42, effects a return of the pushrod to itsnormal position after the valve-actuating movement. The pushrod 43terminates adjacent the stem 24, and when the handle 4| is rocked, thepushrod bears against the stem and unseats tilt valve 22.

In the operation of the embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figures 1and 3, water entering thru inlet 1 from a water main or other source(not shown) and maintained under a substantially uniform pressure, fillsthe chamber I! closed by tilt valve 22, the pressure of the waterforcing ball 28 against its seat 27. As the chamber I'I fills, thepressure of the water forces a small flow thru the bleed opening 29 andthru the passage 30 into control chamber I2. The increasing pressure ofthe water on the cup washer 33 moves the piston away from valve I0,against the resistance of spring I4. At the same time the pressure ofthe water holds valve ill on its seat 9. Due to the large superficialarea of the valve In with relation to the circumferential extent of thecontrol chamber, a comparatively slight pressure is suificient to holdthe valve on its seat, whereas a considerably greater pressure would berequired if the valve had a relatively small superficial area.

The movement of the piston I3 causes a compression of the spring 40,until the piston I3 has traveled a predetermined distance from valve I0,when the compression of the spring 40 will develop sufficient force toovercome the pressure of the water on valve I0, whereupon the valve ismoved off its seat 9 and the water flows out of control chamber I2 thrupassage 2|] and into outlet 8, to spray a fixture (not shown) connectedwith the outlet.

As soon as the water flows past valve ID, the spring I4 urges the pistonagainst valve IO and reseats the valve, whereupon refilling of thecontrol chamber I2 progresses in the manner indicated. It is to beunderstood that the amount of water flowing thru the bleed opening 29 isrelatively small so that a considerable time interval is providedbetween the flushing operations While chamber I 2 is being filled. Theseintervals are not so extended, however, that the fixture becomes drybetween the flushing actions.

The arrangement of the springs I4 and 40 is calculated to restrain theopening movement of the valve I0, until a supply of water is maintainedin the control chamber I2 of just sufficient volume to adequately flushthe fixture with which the valve is connected, thereby eliminating thepossibility of any Waste of Water.

When it is desired to manually actuate the valve, the handle 4| isrocked to unseat tilt valve 22. Water from the inlet 1 is permitted toflow directly to the outlet 8 while the tilt valve 22 is unseated, andin addition, water in the control chamber flows thru passage 30 andunseats ball 28 due to the decrease of pressure in chamber H.

The consequent release of pressure in the control chamber I2 unseatsvalve I 0, and water flows from the control chamber I2 thru passage 20to the outlet, until the chamber is emptied. As soon as the manualmovement of the handle 4| is terminated, the pushrod 43 is returned toits normal position by spring 45. Spring 25 thereupon reseats tilt valve22, and refilling of control chamber I2 resumes in the above-describedmanner.

The embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 incorporatesthe above-described principles of operation, and involves only slightstructural differences. The casing 6 is provided with an enlargement 43in which a port 49 is provided for communication between the inlet I andthe control chamber I 2. The port 49 adjacent the inlet 1 terminates ina seat 50 for a ball valve 5|. The seat is notched at 52 to provide ableed opening.

The piston I3, consisting of a cup washer 33, held between plates 53 and54 to form a shoulder exposed to the pressure of water entering controlchamber I2, carries a stem 55, and the valve I0 is apertured at 56 topermit sliding movement of the stem therein. A flanged head 51 on thestem provides an abutment for a spring 40 on the stem, which has itsopposite end bearing upon the valve II]. A casing 58, fastened on thevalve I0 and holding the washer 59 in the recess in the valve, enclosesthe spring 40 and stem 55, and extends into the outlet passage 8 of thecasmg.

A handle 4| is fulcrumed on the enlargement 48 and actuates a pushrod43, slidably supported in an aperture 60 in the enlargement 48. Thepushrod has an end adjacent the ball 5|, and its opposite end isprovided with a head 46 in a recess 6| in the enlargement. A spring 45is held on the pushrod within the recess 6| with one end engaging thehead and its opposite end engaging a surface of the enlargement.

The casing 6 is recessed at 62 above the control chamber I 2, and theinterior of the casing is connected with the recess by a port 63. Thejunction of the port and recess provides a seat 64 for a ball 65. Aby-pass 66 leading from the recess 62 establishes communication betweenthe recess and the outlet passage 8.

The operation of the embodiment of the valve illustrated in Figures 2and 4 is similar to the operation heretofore described. The pressure ofwater is inlet 1 seats ball 5|, and a restricted flow is forced thrubleed opening 52 into control chamber I2. The valve In is normallyseated in a manner already explained, and the pressure of water in thecontrol chamber raises piston I3 while holding valve I0 on its seat.contraction of spring 40 develops a force sufficient to overcome thepressure of water exerted against valve In to hold same on its seat 9,the opening movement of the valve I0 is efiected, and water in thecontrol chamber I2 flows past seat 9 into the outlet passage 8. Therelease of pressure in the control chamber permits the spring I4 toreseat valve I5 thru the intermediary of valve I3 and stem 55, andrefilling of the control chamber is resumed.

When manual operation is desired, rocking of handle 4| unseats ball 5|,permitting a rapid flow of water from the inlet 1 into control chamberI2. The piston quickly raised a distance sufficient to contract thespring to a point where opening movement of valve IE] is efiected tothereby release a fiow of water from control chamber I2 into outletpassage 8. When pressure on the handle 4| is removed, the ball 5|reseats, and refilling of control chamber progresses in the mannerheretofore described.

If washer 33 leaks and water escapes into the hollow interior of thecasing 6, the compression caused by upward movement of the piston Whenthe I3 unseats ball 65, closing vent I6, and the water flows out thruport 63 and passage 66 into outlet passage 8. During this action,closing of vent l6 by ball 65 prevents any splashing of water therethru.

It is to be understood that changes and modifications may be resorted towithin the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and avalve seat, a valve cooperating with the seat to control the flow ofwater betwen the inlet and the outlet, a spring-pressed pistonreciprocating in the casing and defining a control chamber at a sidethereof, the piston being normally in contact with the valve whereby thepistonspring also serves to press the valve onto its seat there being apassageway between the inlet and the chamber, the casing having aby-pass between its interior beyond the control chamber and the outletfor the removal of water leaking past the piston, the piston beingmovable against the resistance of its spring by the pressure of water inthe chamber, a spring positioned between the piston and the valve,functioning when compressed, to produce a force tending to open thevalve and means for compressing the valve spring by movement of thepiston, to unseat the valve and move it to fully open position bysubsequent expansion of its spring, when the piston is moved by thewater entering the control chamber, whereby to effect a flow of waterfrom the chamber to the outlet,

2. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet and avalve seat, a valve cooperating with the seat to control the flow ofwater between the inlet and the outlet, a spring-pressed pistonreciprocating in the casing and defining, with the valve, a controlchamber at a side thereof, there being a passage between the inlet andthe chamber, a check valve located in the passage for restricting theflow from the inlet into the chamber to regulate the rate of flow ofwater into the control chamber, the piston being movable away from thevalve and against the resistance of its spring by the pressure of waterin the chamber, and toward and into contact with the valve by the actionof its spring, and means comprising a spring for opening the main valveby movement of the piston against the action of its spring, whereby toeffect a flow of water from the chamber to the outlet.

3. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, avalve and a piston cooperatively connected for reciprocating movementwithin the casing and defining between them a. control chamber, therebeing a passage in the casing for establishing communication between theinlet and the control chamber, a check valve in the passage, there beinga second passage between the control chamber and the outlet, a tiltvalve normally closing said second passage, a spring pressing upon thepiston, the piston being movable against the resistance of its spring bythe pressure of water in the control chamber, and. a second springdisposed between the piston and the valve, to be compressed by themovement of the piston and acting upon the valve to efiect by itsexpansion an opening movement thereof, when its pressure overbalancesthe fluid pressure in the chamber.

WILLIAM S. WHITE.

